PTNS-501 Lessons

An unsuspecting glass containing what seems to be water rests atop the professor’s desk, apparently innocuous enough to not raise any further suspicion. You decide to pay no attention to the glass, although you hear some muffled conversation about a bet right behind you. In a dash, one of your classmates darts forward and takes a tiny sip from the container, laughing to himself as he moves back to his seat.

As if on cue, the familiar stern professor walks into the room, looking towards the glass and frowning while inspecting its contents. “Who drank from this glass?”, the man asks, and your friend’s hand shoots upward as if it were propelled by an external force. “I should have expected that from you, Mr. Finchley. You just lost 30 points for your house with a bonus prize of detention after class. Be thankful that this is all that you got - if you drank more of this potion, you’d be on your merry way to the hospital wing or even St. Mungos”, Vaylen retorts.

With a sigh, the tall professor shakes his head. “I assumed by now that you knew better than to drink any kind of liquid you see in my class, or that you’d at least read the syllabus before we start. For Mr. Finchley and the others that still require clarification about our agenda, today we are going to discuss a potion that can force most people to spill the truth.”

Introduction

As you could probably guess, today we are going to discuss Veritaserum. However, before we get to the actual potion, there are some questions that we should discuss first.

Why do people lie? What makes them tell the truth? Why is it that you can force the truth out of someone, and how? Perhaps you would be surprised to know that even Muggles have tried to recreate their own versions of truth serums - although, as you might surmise, their results were far from effective due to their lack of magical ability.

Without further ado, let’s move onwards.

Psychology and Physiology of Lying

There are so many mental and chemical reactions that happen to the human body when a person is not telling the truth, and each one of these reactions provokes a cascade that floods your blood with several hormones and neurotransmitters. This knowledge is important not only from a technical standpoint, but also as a way to understand how Veritaserum works. Still, before we get to the “how”, let’s explore the “why”.

There are many reasons why people lie - and I assume that, if you think hard enough about your personal experiences, you can definitely identify a few of them. The most common reasons for lying are, naturally, the desire to avoid punishment or gain a reward. We are always doing our best to increase our satisfaction and decrease our discomfort, and it is for that very reason that most people tend to lie in order to avoid harm. This can range from very innocuous lies, such as telling a friend that you liked her new hairstyle, to harsher ones, such as lying about a crime that you have committed.

Still, these are not the only reasons why people lie. There are some interesting syndromes that cause people to lie even without intention. For example, there is a condition called mythomania - which, I shall reinforce, has no connection to mythology, lest you feel compelled to ask Professor Wessex about it.

Mythomania, which is also called pathological lying, is the syndrome characterized by constant lying without any practical benefit to the liar. The reasons for mythomania are currently not completely understood, but there are studies from 2007 that state this condition is aggravated by other psychological syndromes, such as antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. Furthermore, those that are affected by mythomania frequently score high in the so-called Dark Triad of Personality - a series of three traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) that indicate an overall disregard for other people - which would then justify, for those individuals, their lies.

Well, if that is why people lie, why would they tell the truth then? Naturally, people will tell the truth when there are no potential risks or losses, but individuals might also feel compelled to be truthful because of ethics or morals. The concept of ethics - which you will study more in-depth if you take your N.E.W.T. in History of Magic - is based on a feeling of obligation to do what is considered the “right thing”. Let’s go back to the example I detailed earlier: even though some people might lie to a friend about a bad haircut, others might defend there is a moral obligation to protect that friend from external criticism and ridicule. According to those people, even if they might hurt that friendship in the short run, they still need to tell the truth in order to be a good friend.

Regardless of the reason, lies cause a chemical cascade inside the human body as a result of the fight-or-flight system. If you paid attention to your second year of Transfiguration, you will remember that the fight-or-flight system is the mechanism of self-protection that all enemies have in order to fend against an external attacker. This mechanism works by pumping your bloodstream with two chemicals - cortisol (C₂₁H₃₀O₅) and adrenaline (C₉H₁₃NO₃) - which act as vasoconstrictors. In other words, these chemicals speed up your heart rate and increase your blood pressure by making your vessels squeeze tighter, which in turn increases the blood flow to your brain and muscles.

The objective of this action is quite simple - an increased blood flow to the brain enables you to react better to your surroundings and decide on how to evade, or fight, the attacker. Likewise, the added availability of blood to the muscular tissue increases how much oxygen the muscular cells can use for cellular breathing, making it easier to use your muscles in a physical fight or an escape.

Now, it’s quite interesting that, even though the fight-or-flight system is usually associated with an external threat, we still activate that form of defense when lying. The reason for that is actually simple - when lying, people have the expectation that they might be caught, and this fear of a potential conflict acts as a stressor that triggers the defense mechanism. In other words, even though the risk is imaginary, the physical reactions are very real.

The presence of cortisol is especially important to us because the modern form of Veritaserum works by reacting with this compound - the combination between the Veritaserum mixture and cortisol creates a chemical that inhibits the Central Nervous System, lowering the target’s mental barriers and making them blurt out the truth. This is also why Veritaserum has some limitations, which we will study soon.

Muggles and Truth Serums

Do not think that we are the only ones that have tried to create a compound like that, though. In fact, many Muggle investigation agencies realized the usefulness of a truth serum and tried to develop a solution that could be used to make criminals confess their misdeeds.

The most famous experiments were conducted by the organization known as CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), an investigation agency that operates in the United States. Initially, they believed that the use of LSD, a hallucinogenic drug, could be used to extract the truth if applied in low enough doses - however, those experiments proved to not be fruitful.

Further experiments were then conducted with a new chemical, called scopolamine (C₁₇H₂₁NO₄) - a chemical that was previously used as an anesthetic for women in labor, and that was reported to make these women answer questions truthfully and directly, only to forget about having answered once the effect of the drug wore off. The CIA had better success with this tactic and began to use that preparation in some interrogatories.

Nevertheless, the tool was later discontinued, as they discovered that many side effects - such as headache and blurry vision - were associated with the use of scopolamine. In fact, extensive use of the substance can lead to hallucinations and disorientation, which hindered the interrogations from continuing.

Interestingly enough, Muggles were on the right path to discovering the fundamentals of Veritaserum; they simply lacked the necessary magical ingredients to make the preparation work.

Scopolamine and Veritaserum’s Mechanism

We have previously mentioned scopolamine in this lesson, but never explained where that chemical comes from. Although scopolamine can be synthesized in a laboratory, some plants produce this substance naturally - and, in fact, the flower that we use in Veritaserum as the source of scopolamine has been the subject of many urban myths that are still believed by some Muggles.

The most notable of these plants is the angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia arborea), also called the “borrachero tree” or “borrachero shrub” in South America. This plant is native to many countries in the southern hemisphere, such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Bolivia, and has been the cause for the myth that is known as the “Devil’s Breath” by Muggles that live in these countries.

Simply put, native populations believe that the components of this plant can be processed into a chemical that is able to effectively zombify a person who touches the mixture, making the victim follow every single command issued. This myth is frequently associated with stories in which victims were robbed of all their belongings with no resistance whatsoever.

Of course, those allegations are very exaggerated - but they touch the truth in important points. Although scopolamine cannot be used to force absolute compliance, it is undeniable that this chemical can be used to lower inhibitions and relax the target - which, in turn, makes any form of physical or mental reaction more difficult.

This is, in fact, how Veritaserum works in the human body - its effects are caused by the targeted relaxation of the prefrontal cortex, which is the brain region that is connected to executive control and deliberate planning. As a consequence, the affected person cannot create a deliberate lie to fool the person asking nor control their reactions in an attempt to not answer the question; this causes him or her to blurt out the truth unintentionally.

Veritaserum’s Creation

This potion was created by Barnaby Forsythe, a business partner with Elliot Smethwyck in his flying broom company during the context of the Industrial Revolution. Now, as some of you might already know, Elliot Smethwyck was credited with the invention of the Cushioning Charm in 1829 - however, you are now about to discover that the truth about this invention might not be as palatable as one would expect.

Elliot Smethwyck and Barnaby Forsythe worked together in Barnot Transportation Limited; while Mr. Smethwyck was the expert in Deep Object Charms and artifacts, Mr. Forsythe knew all about the potions required to produce and maintain a broom. However, they were not alone in this market; a business competitor, Watson Truman, was working intently on ways to increase the comfort of broom travelers.

In order to keep up with the competitor’s advancements, Elliot Smethwyck tried to develop an improved version of his competitor’s charms; his attempts, however, all failed. At that point, Forsythe came up with a plan: instead of trying to recreate the charms, they would just gather the spellcasting information directly from the source. Forsythe had traveled to Peru a few months before and obtained some samples of Brugmansia arborea after hearing about its properties - it was at this time that he applied his knowledge in order to develop Veritaserum.

The mixture worked well after extensive experimentation. Once a final version was brewed, Smethwyck and Forsythe invited Truman to their company, stating that they had an offer to make. Truman agreed to the meeting and was the unsuspecting victim of Veritaserum that had been concealed in his water goblet, thus revealing all industrial secrets of the charms he had developed so far. That knowledge was then repurposed by Elliot Smethwyck, who invented the Cushioning Charm as we know it today.

Veritaserum’s Limitations

There are limits to Veritaserum, however, and for that reason the potion has not been used in criminal proceedings or other judicial matters. First and foremost, it’s important to know that a trained wizard or witch can learn how to resist the effects of the potion with enough force of will.

This is a direct consequence of the way the potion works. If you recall the previous explanation, Veritaserum is effective when it inhibits the activity of the prefrontal cortex, disallowing the target from raising a mental defense. However, the effects of this prevention can be diminished or even ignored if the victim expects the effect and reacts to it by engaging the prefrontal cortex as actively as possible.

This is very similar to the technique of Occlumency, which you will study with Professor Penrose if you pursue your N.E.W.T. in Defense Against the Dark Arts. When a practitioner of Occlumency raises a defense - either by using distraction or substitution techniques - they are effectively engaging their prefrontal cortex in mental activity, thus filtering the Legilimens’s access to the hippocampus, which is where your memories are stored. It should not be a surprise to you, then, that skilled Occlumens can also resist the effects of Veritaserum.

Veritaserum has yet another limitation, and one that you will learn this very week in your Charms class - the Fidelius Charm. As Professor Virneburg will tell you later, the Fidelius Charm is used to protect important information by electing someone to be a Secret Keeper. This Secret Keeper cannot be compelled to provide the entrusted information by any means, and that includes Veritaserum.

Last but not least, antidotes to Veritaserum have already been developed. These compounds work by disrupting the interaction between the magical molecules and the cortisol in the target’s bloodstream, effectively rendering the potion completely innocuous.

Having said that, it is time to begin working on our potion brewing. Still, I would like to provide a word of caution before we continue: the use of Veritaserum is very strongly regulated by the Ministry, and I certainly do not want any trouble to happen in my classroom. If I find out that any of you tried to smuggle out even a single drop of Veritaserum in order to blackmail your sibling or prank your friends, you will be expelled from my class immediately. Consider this your warning.

Veritaserum

Estimated Brewing Time:
Pewter Cauldron: 2 hours, 23 minutes and 17 seconds
Brass Cauldron: 2 hours, 12 minutes and 11 seconds
Copper Cauldron: 2 hours, 2 minutes and 11.6 seconds

Total Brewing Time:
Pewter Cauldron: 28 days, 2 hours, 23 minutes and 17 seconds
Brass Cauldron: 28 days, 2 hours, 12 minutes and 11 seconds
Copper Cauldron: 28 days, 2 hours, 2 minutes and 11.6 seconds

Ingredients:
1 L of water
1 moonstone, crushed¹
3 angel’s trumpet flowers¹
4 Jobberknoll feathers¹
1 Puffapod bean¹
40 mL of frost salamander blood²
10 centaur tears²
2 mistletoe berries, lightly squeezed²
25 mL of sheep sweat²
20 grains of Xiaozhan rice²
10 mL of lime juice³
6 patchouli flowers³
10 g of ground sandalwood bark³

Instructions

Part One:
1. Make sure to start brewing your potion under the effects of the full Moon. Add 750 mL of water to your cauldron and bring the heat to 348 Kelvin (74.85°C/166.73°F).
2. Add 2 mistletoe berries and 7 centaur tears to a separate bowl. Let the lightly squeezed berries absorb the centaur tears for 30 seconds.
3. Add 1 mistletoe berry from the separate bowl, followed by 1 grain of Xiaozhan rice, then 1 mistletoe berry again from the separate bowl to the cauldron. (Note: Adding the ingredients in the wrong order will cause the potion to emit a thick orange smoke - if that happens, discard the corrosive potion immediately.)
4. Sprinkle 5 g of the ground sandalwood bark over the cauldron’s contents.
5. Stir the contents of your cauldron twice counterclockwise, then once clockwise.
6. Add 4 grains of Xiaozhan rice to your mortar and crush them to coarse granules.
7. Sprinkle the crushed Xiaozhan rice evenly over the cauldron’s contents.
8. Stir the contents of your cauldron three times clockwise, wait 10 seconds, then once more clockwise.
9. Let the potion simmer in your pewter cauldron for 33 minutes.
(This would be 29 minutes and 42 seconds in a brass cauldron and 26 minutes and 43.8 seconds in a copper cauldron.)

At this point, your potion will be mint-green, with a small flash of yellow across the surface every five seconds. The emitted steam will be lilac.

Part Two:
1. In a separate bowl, mix 25 mL of sheep sweat and 5 g of ground sandalwood bark until the wood absorbs the liquid.
2. Add the sheep sweat and sandalwood bark mixture to your cauldron.
3. Bring the heat gradually to 393 Kelvin (119.85°C/247.73°F) over the next 20 seconds.
4. Stir the cauldron half a rotation clockwise, interrupt the stirring mid-movement, then complete your stir with another half a rotation clockwise. (Note: Beware of splashing when interrupting the first motion. Be gentle.)
5. Pluck the petals of 2 angel’s trumpet flowers and add them to your cauldron. (Note: Do not discard the remainder of the flowers afterwards.)
6. Suspend the remaining 15 grains of Xiaozhan rice over the potion with the Levitation Charm until they are exposed to the potion’s steam for 1 minute.
7. Add the 15 grains of Xiaozhan rice to your cauldron.
8. Bring the heat to 323 Kelvin (49.85°C/121.73°F), then let the potion simmer in your pewter cauldron for 55 minutes.
(This would be 49 minutes and 30 seconds in a brass cauldron and 44 minutes and 33 seconds in a copper cauldron.)

At this point, your potion will be pale yellow. The steam will be white and rise up in a coil-like fashion.

Part Three:
1. Bring the heat to 523 Kelvin (249.85°C/481.73°F) for exactly 10 seconds. (Note: If you expose the potion to high heat for longer than that, it will turn red and generate moss-green bubbles. This shows that the potion has been ruined and must be discarded.)
2. Bring the heat to 383 Kelvin (109.85°C/229.73°F), then let the potion simmer in your pewter cauldron for 22 minutes.
(This would be 19 minutes and 48 seconds in a brass cauldron and 17 minutes and 49.2 seconds in a copper cauldron.)
3. Add 4 Jobberknoll feathers and the remainders of your plucked angel’s trumpet flowers to your cauldron.
4. In a spray bottle, add 250mL of water, 3 centaur tears, 10 mL of lime juice, 20 mL of frost salamander blood and 1 crushed moonstone.
5. Stir the contents of the spray bottle once counterclockwise.
6. Spray the mixture on the surface of your cauldron’s contents 10 times. (Note: The potion will flash gold with each spray. If there is no flash, the concentration for the spray mixture was prepared incorrectly and the potion must be discarded.)
7. Add 3 patchouli flowers to your cauldron, then stir its contents twice counterclockwise.
8. Remove the potion from the heat source for the next 10 minutes, regardless of cauldron type.

At this point, your potion will be milky and white. No steam will be emitted at first, but you should see some orange steam 5 minutes after the removal from the heat source.

Part Four:
1. Bring the heat to 313 Kelvin (39.85°C/103.73°F).
2. Expose the spray bottle to the potion’s steam with a Levitation Charm for 7 seconds.
3. Spray the mixture on the surface of your cauldron’s contents 20 times.
4. Stir the contents of your cauldron four times clockwise.
5. Add 1 angel’s trumpet flower and 3 patchouli flowers to your mortar, then macerate the herbs until they become a homogeneous paste.
6. Add the prepared paste and 20 mL of frost salamander blood to a separate bowl.
7. Stir the contents of the bowl 10 times clockwise. (Note: The mixture should be homogeneous after the stirring. If your mixture is chunky, the potion’s efficacy will be severely diminished.)
8. Add 1 Puffapod bean to the bowl, letting it touch the bottom of the recipient until it blooms.
9. After the Puffapod bean blooms, immediately add the contents of the bowl to your cauldron.
10. Bring the heat to 373 Kelvin (99.85°C/211.73°F), then let the potion simmer in your pewter cauldron for 1 minute.
(This would be 54 seconds in a brass cauldron and 48.6 seconds in a copper cauldron.)
11. Remove the potion from the heat source and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before siphoning it into a vial.
12. The potion must mature for 28 days before consumption.

The final potion will be completely clear. It has no smell and no taste.

Storage:

Veritaserum must be stored in a dark and cool place. Do not expose the potion to temperatures greater than 25°C. After full maturation, the potion can be used for the next six months.

Usage:

Veritaserum can be consumed both directly and in conjunction with non-alcoholic liquids. If administered directly, drip two drops of the mixture directly onto the target’s tongue. If mixed with other liquids, add three drops of Veritaserum to the vessel, then stir once clockwise with your wand.

Caution:

This potion cannot be consumed in conjunction with alcohol. In case of overdose, symptoms such as coprolalia (i.e., involuntarily saying rude words) might appear - if this happens, consult a healer immediately.

Allergies to Veritaserum are extremely rare; however, if they do happen, common symptoms are complete discolouration of the lips and a persistent cough. If those symptoms appear, discontinue the use at once and seek immediate care.

Closing

This potion is one of many that require a specific Moon phase in order to be properly brewed, for reasons that we have previously discussed, albeit in limited detail, in your Astronomy course. As a refresher, specific Moon phases work by dispersing the energy emitted by the Sun in distinctive diffraction patterns, which in turn amplify or mitigate specific sections of the magical energy spectrum. We will discuss this topic more in depth during Year Seven; for now, you should make sure to complete the mandatory quiz for the lesson and a brief essay on the potential failures of Veritaserum instead. For those that are willing to walk the extra mile, there will also be an optional review quiz on Year Three.

Dismissed.

Original lesson written by Professor Vaylen Draekon
Image credits here, here and here